Sheet-material expander



July 20, 1965 G. P. KNAPP 3,195,214

SHEET-MATERIAL EXPANDER Filed June 2o, 1961 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. 650/2 6E R K/VAPP ATTORNEYS e July 20, 1965 G. P. KNAPP SHEET-MATERIAL EXPANDER 2 ,Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1961 i I ff...

INVENToR. 650365 P AWA/2,0

7g4/d4 am! 76ml United States Patent O 3,1%,214 SHEET-IVATERHAL EXPANDEP.

George P. Knapp, Wahan, Mass., assigner to Mount Hope Machinery Company, Taunton, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed dune 2t), 1961, Ser. No. 129,927 19 Claims. (Cl. 26-63) The present invention relates to sheet-material expanders and the like and, more particularly, to rotatable roller mechanism that provide a substantially infinite number of gentle spreading actions across the width of a sheet or web, such as a fabric material or the like, moving over the roller mechanism, in order to expand the sheet or web and thereby eliminate wrinkles, slack edges, baggy centers, loss of width in sheet processing, and automatically to provide a smooth full-width sheet or web.

Expander mechanisms of the above-described type have long been in use in textile mills and in other operations, and are described, for example, in United States Letters Patent No. 2,393,191, issued January l5, 1946. Because of the fine nature of certain fabrics and other materials, the expander rollers are often provided with smooth rubber or similar outer surfaces. There are certain fabrics or other sheets or webs, however, that do not require that the expander roller have such smooth surfaces for expanding the same. Rayon or nylon webs, as an illustration, which may be employed as relatively coarse tire reinforcements, may be expanded by a bowed expander roller constituted of interlocking, rotatable spools, successively alined along the axis of the roller, and provided along the ro-ller outer surface :with longitudinally extending fins interlocking the successive spools and enabling free rotation thereof as the sheet or web is drawn thereover. Such a construction is advantageous when the web being handled is at a relatively high temperature, which would cause rapid deterioration of the covering of an expander, the outer surface of which is a sleeve of rubber or similar mater-ial. In the past, these longitudinally extending fins have been fabricated by setting them into recesses or grooves, formed within the periphery of the spools. Such structures, however, are rather costly to manufacture and, in addition, are subject to the very serious disadvantage that the adjacent ends of the spool fins that interlock are subject to a continual random rubbing contact that tends to sharpen the fins and thus ultimately, to damage the sheet or web material passing thereover, as the result of pinching, cutting or fraying action caused bythe sharpened iin ends.

An object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a new and improved sheet-material-expander structure that shall not be subject to the above disadvantages but that, to the contrary, shall not only be of less costly construction, but shall inherently prevent the contacting and sharpening of the interlocking ends of the tins of the adacent spools, and thus obviate damage to the sheet material expanded thereby.

A further object is to provide a new and improved expander of more general utility, also.

Still a further object is to provide a novel liin structure of the character described.

Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter, and will more particularly be pointed out in connection with the appended claims. In summary, however, the invention involves, in a sheet-material-expander, a longitudinally-extending channel member, substantially U-shaped in cross-section, having, preferably, substantially planar bottom and side walls, and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extension, the lower edges of which are disposed above the bottom channel Wall. The side extensions at one of the ends of the vwall 8, as shown at 1li.

channel members are provided with buffer means, preferably in the form of buffer langes extending laterally outward therefrom, that prevent contacting and consequent sharpening of the ends of the channel members.

The invention will show now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings,

PEG l o-f which is an isometric view of an expander channel member constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

PEG. 2 is a similar view, illustrating a pair of adjacent spools, making up an expander roller, and provided with channel members of the type illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a top elevation illustrating the expanding action of the expander roller of FIG. 2, upon a web of sheet material; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring, first, to FIG. 4, a web of sheet material, such as, for example, the before-mentioned rayon or nylon tire reinforcing fabric, or the like, :is shown at 1, proceeding in the direction of the arrow I, over a bowed expander roller, generally indicated by the reference numeral 2,and comprising a plurality of successive interlocking spool 2', 2" 2', mounted as free-wheeling rolle-rs about a bowed stationary axle 4, FIG. 5.

The individual strands of the webs 1 will approach contact with the outer surface of the expander roller 2 at successively diverging angles on either side of the longitudinal center line of the web 1, as indicated by the arrows Il. Upon contacting the freely rotating outer surface of the roller 2 at an infinite number of points, the web 1 will be generally spread across its width so that the fabric strands will proceed, to the left, beyond the expander roller 2, in substantially parallel lines, as shown by the arrows Ill. The fabric 1 has thus been expanded and smoothed out with an even width-wise tension that removes Wrinkles, slack edges, baggy centers and other distortions.

In accordance with the present invention, the outer surface of the free-wheeling roller 2 is formed by a plurality of longitudinal-extending channel members of the type shown at 6 in FIG. 1. Each channel member is substantially Ushaped in cross-section, and is provided with a substantially planar bottom wall S, conforming substantially to the cylindrical roller surface, and longitudinally-extending, substantially planar side walls 1d. T ie bottom wall 8 may be welded or otherwise secured, as more particularly shown in FlGS. 3 and 5, to cylindrical spools or sleeves 12, thus obviating the necessity for pre-grooving the spool sleeves 12 and fitting fins therein, as in prior-art devices of this character, and thereby greatly simplifying the construction process.

At one end of each of the channel members o, shown as the right-hand end in FIG. l, the longitudinally-extending sides l@ of the channel member e, which project substantially radially outward from the spools 12, are extended longitudinally beyond the bottom substantially planar Similar longitudinal side-wall extensions 1li are provided at the other or left-hand end of the channel member 6, as shown in FG. l, with the bottom edges of the extensions 1li also disposed above the bottom channel wall 8. in the case of the extensions 1h, however, buffer means are provided, preferably in the form of buffer ilanges 14 that extend laterally outward from the side extensions 1d", and are of length somewhat less than one-half the width of the channel member 6, as measured between the longitudinal side edges lll, for reasons later described.

As more particularly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, channel members 6 of the type described in connection with the embodiment of FlG. 1, are successively distributed aboutv the cylindrical peripheral surface ofeach spool l2, with the extensions lll of the channel members o interlocking with the extensions lill ,of the corresponding channel members o of adjacent spools. of the longitudinal side walls l@ of the channel members 6 of the spool 2 are interloclred between the ilanges ildof the free ends lll?" of the corresponding channel members of the adjacent spool 2, with each flange lddisposed between a pair Aof side extensions lll of channel members ofthe adjacent spool 2'; and so on, for the remaning spools of the expander roller 2. As a result of tins construction, the free ends lll of the side walls-lll of the channel rnembers of the spool Zare coupled to the side wall extensions of the channel members of the adjacent spool, but are prevented, by the buffering action of the ld of the corresponding channel members 6 of the adjacent spool 2, from contacting the free ends lll of such corresponding channel members 6, thus preventing any sharpening of adjacent channel-member edges and preventing consequent damage to the web that would result from such sharpening, as before explained.

ln order to limit the amount of play in the free-wheeling'successive spools 2', 2 2', making up the outer t sleeve of the expander roller 2, and in order to provide for the symmetrical construction above-described, the length of each butter llange ld, as measured in a lateral direction substantially parallel to the plane of the bottom walls Si of the channel members, will be somewhat less than one-hall the width of the channel members between the side walls l thereof, as before mentioned.

lt will be evident that it is not necessary, though it is deemed preferable, to employ the particular geometrical configuration of substantially planar butler flanges lll, and that, similarly, the shape of the channel members may deviate from the particular geometrical configuration illustrated and described; but in all cases, the channel members will be substantially U-shaped in cross-section.

Further modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and all such are considered to fall within the spirit Vand scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. A longitudinally extending channel member for use in a sheet-material-expander, the said member being-substantially U-shaped in cross-section and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions, with the side extensions at one of the ends being provided with bulle means extending laterally outward therefrom.

2. A longitudinally extending channel member for use in a sheet-material-expander, the said member being substantially U-shaped in cross-section having bottom and sidewalls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions, with the side extensions at one of the ends be-l ing provided with buffer langes extending laterally outward therefrom.

3. A longitudinally extending channel memberfor use in a sheet-material-expander, the said member beingT substantially U-shaped in cross-section having substantially planar'bottom and side ywalls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions the lower edges of which are disposed above the bottom channel wall, the side extensions at one or the ends being provided with butler means extending laterally outward therefrom.

4. A longitudinally extending channel member tor use in a sheet-material-expander, the said member being sub-- stantially U-shaped in cross-section having substantiall planar bottonrand side walls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions the lower edges of which are disposed above the bottom channel wall, the side extensions at one of the ends ybeing provided with butler lianges extending laterally outward therefrom.

5. A longitudinally extending channel member for use in a sheet-material-expander, the said member being substantially U-shaped in cross-section having bottom and Thus, the free ends lil side walls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions, with the side extensions at one of the ends being provided with butter flanges extending laterally outward therefrom a distance somewhat less than one-half the width of the channel member between yits sides.

6. A longitudinally extending channel member for use in a sheet-material-expander, the said member being substantially U-shaped in cross-section having'substantially planar bottom and side walls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions the lower edges of which are disposed above the bottom channel wall, the side extensions at one of the ends being provided with 'butler flanges extending laterally outward therefrom a distance slightly less than one-half the width of the channel member between its sides.

7. Three coupled longitudinally extending channel members for use in a sheet-material-expander, each o the said members being substantially U-shaped in crosssection having bottom and side walls and each provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions, with the side extensions at one of the ends of each member being provided with butier means and withk the butter means of tWoof thechannel members beingdisposed on opposite sides of one of the side extensions at the other end oi the third channel member, the said two channel members being carried by a support and said third channel member being-carried by a further support.

8. Three coupled longitudinally extending channelmembers for usein a sheet-material-expander, each of the said members being substantially U-shaped incrosssection having bottom and side walls and each provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions, with the side extensions at one of the ends of each member being providedwith buler flanges extending laterally outward therefrom and with butler flanges of two of the channel members disposed on opposite sides of one of the side extensions at the other end of the third channel member, the said two channel members being carried hy a support and said third channel member being carried by a further support.

9. Three coupled Vlongitudinally extending channel members for use in a sheet-material-expander, each of the said members being substantially U-shapedin crosssection having substantially planar bottom and side walls and each provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions the lower edges of which are disposed above the bottom channel Wall, the side extensions at Vone of the ends of each member being provided with bulier means,

and with-the buler means of two of the channel memf bers being disposed on opposite sides of one vof the side extensions at the other end of the third channel member, the said two channel members being carried by a support and said third channel member being carried by a further support.

lll. Three coupled longitudinally extending channel members for useV in a sheet-material-expander, each ot the said members being substantially U-shaped in crosssection having substantially planar bottom and side walls and each provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions the lower edges of which are disposed above the bottom channel wall, the side extensions at one vof the ends of each Imember being provided with butler flanges extending laterally outward therefrom, and with buffer anges of two of the channel members disposed on opposite sides of one of the side extensions at the other end of the third channel member, the said twochannel members being carried by a support and said third channel member being carried by a `further support.

11. A sheet-material-expander component comprising a longitudinally extendingcylindrical member provided along its surface with a plurality of successively disposed longitudinally extending channel members each substantially U-shaped in cross-section having bottom and side walls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side'extensions, with the side extensions at one of the ends of each member being provided with buffer means.

1.2. A sheet-material-expander component comprising a longitudinally extending cylindrical member provided along its surface with a plurality of successively disposed longitudinally extending channel members each substantially U-shaped in cross-section having bottom and side walls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side e1- tensions with the side extensions at one of the ends of each member being provided with buffer ilanges extending laterally outward therefrom.

13. A sheet-material-expander component comprising a longitudinally extending cylindrical member provided along its surface with a plurality of successively disposed longitudinally extending channel members each substantially U-shaped in cross-section having substantially planar bottom and side walls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions the lower edges of which are disposed above the bottom channel wall, the side extensions at one of the ends of each member being provided wtih butler means.

14. A sheet-material-expander component comprising a longitudinally extending cylindrical member provided along its surface with a plurality of successively disposed longitudinally extending channel members each substantially U-shaped in cross-section having substantially planar bottom and side walls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions the lower edges of which are disposed above the bottom channel wall, the side extensions at one of the ends of each member being provided with buffer flanges extending laterally outward therefrom.

15. A sheetmaterialexpander comprising a plurality of adjacent free-rotating coupled longitudinally extending cylindrical members each having along its surface a plurality of successively disposed longitudinally extending channel members each substantially U-shaped in crosssection having bottom and side walls and each provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions, with the side extensions at one of the ends of each channel member being provided with buffer means, and with the butler means ofthe channel members of each cylindrical member being disposed between the side extensions at the other end of the corresponding channel members of an adjacent cylindrical member, in order to interlock side extensions at the said other end of each cylindrical member between the buffer means of the corresponding channel members of an adjacent cylindrical member, the axis of each cylindrical member being disposed at a small angle with respect to the axis of adjacent cylindrical members.

y16. A sheet-material-expander comprising a plurality of adjacent free-rotating coupled longitudinally extending cylindrical members each having along its surface a plurality of successively disposed longitudinally extending channel members each substantially U-shaped in crosssection having bottom and side walls and provided at its ends with longitudinal side extensions, with the side extensions at one of the 'ends of each channel member being provided with buffer tlanges extending laterally outward therefrom, and with the butler flanges of the channel members of each cylindrical member being disposed between the side extensions at the other end of the corresponding channel members of an adjacent cylindrical member, in order to interlock side extensions at the said other end of each cylindrical member between the buffer flanges of the corresponding channel members of an adjacent cylindrical member, the axis of each cylindrical member being disposed at a small angle with respect to the axis of adjacent cylindrical members.

17. A sheet-material-expander as claimed in claim 16 and in which the lower edges of the longitudinal side extensions of the channel members are disposed above the bottom channel wall thereof.

18. A sheet-material-expander as claimed in claim 16 and in which the successively coupled cylindrical members are disposed along a 4bowed axis.

19. A sheet-material-expander as claimed in claim 16 and in which the width of each butler flange is slightly less than one-half the width of the corresponding channel member between its longitudinal sides.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,718,620 6/29 Wood 26-63 2,712,681 7/55 Warner 26-63 2,712,682 7/55 Warner 26-63 2,927,347 3/60 Kohler 19-129 2,985,923 5/61 Kohler 19-129 DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner. 

1. A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CHANNEL MEMBER FOR USE IN A SHEET-MATERIAL-EXPANDER, THE SAID MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION AND PROVIDED AT ITS ENDS WITH LONGITUDINAL SIDE EXTENSIONS, WITH THE SIDE EXTENSIONS AT ONE F THE ENDS BEING PROVIDED WITH BUFFER MEANS EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARD THEREFROM.
 16. A SHEET-MATERIAL-EXPANDER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ADJACENT FREE-ROTATING COUPLED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CYLINDRICAL MEMBERS EACH HAVING ALONG ITS SURFACE A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVELY DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CHANNEL MEMBERS EACH SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED IN CROSSSECTION HAVING BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS AND PROVIDED AT ITS ENDS WITH LONGITUDINAL SIDE EXTENSIONS, WITH THE SIDE EXTENSIONS AT ONE OF THE ENDS OF EACH CHANNEL MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH BUFFER FLANGES EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARD THEREFROM, AND WITH THE BUFFER FLANGES OF THE CHANNEL MEMBERS OF EACH CYLINDRICAL MEMBER BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE SIDE EXTENSIONS AT THE OTHER END OF THE CORRESPONDING CHANNEL MEMBERS OF AN ADJACENT CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, IN ORDER TO INTERLOCK SIDE EXTENSION AT THE SAID OTHER END OF EACH CYLINDRICAL MEMBER BETWEEN THE BUFFER FLANGES OF THE CORRESPONDING CHANNEL MEMBERS OF AN ADJACENT CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER BEING DISPOSED AT A SMALL ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF ADJACENT CYLINDRICAL MEMBERS. 